Archive of ‘Fashion’ category

A So so SoHo Sunday

So after sleeping the day away yesterday I decided I needed to get out of my apartment and see the light of day… Since catching sight of the Anna Sui 2011 Fall/Winter Collection (amazing btw) I realized I had never set foot in her store so.. what a better day than a sunny sunday to do it…. I ate a quick bite and hopped the train to Prince St….

On my way to her store a couple flower laiden girls gave me a huge flower clip for a 10% off promo at Kate Spade.. I didn’t go but promptly put the flower in my hair.. it seemed appropriate for my mood/day. Eventually I came upon Anna… and oh how wonderful her store is.. a mix of 60’s, 70’s, bohemian and goth chic… beautiful. I wanted everything…

I did leave with one special item however.. I went with the intention of getting some foundation so I purchased a pressed powder and a case thats limited edition just released yesterday I guess, usually it comes with a black rose case.. I figured I could always switch it out to that one later..

Since I only intended on going to Anna Sui I left indecisive upon what to do next, I decided to hunt down some coffee and a snack….along the way I wandered in and out of various places like Burberry, LF, Space.NK, Sephora, Ben Sherman, Free People, etc.. etc.. Soho is a dangerous place for willing (and unwilling) pocketbooks… I ended up purchasing a couple more items (mint colored ruffled tap shorts and a purple slouchy crop top, Jemma Kidd lip stain! A must for everyday use, better than gunky lipstick) and flower headband. All on major sale.. SCORE.

Of course in SoHo there are also a million things of street art to behold and funny things too such as.. whomever had the ingenious idea of covering up the cross walk signs like this:

I also hit up one of the many cool trucks you’ll find peddling everything from ice cream to paintings and t-shirts..

There is no comparison to naturally sourced and produced foods.. this is the flavor I eventually chose.. its pronounced something like “John do ya’?” as in “Do ya’ want some ice cream?” This is how the girl explained it to me-cute. After eating my ice cream and people watching I hurried to get home because the weather was making me itch for a ride on my scooter. So my roomie and I went for a night ride to Brooklyn, fed some kitties and then ate some tasty food. Now I’m writing this from bed about to finish up my book, Wicked. I hope everyone else had a nice lazy Sunday as well. Cheers!!

Fashion’s Night Out

So for the Third Annual FNO all of Manhattan and parts of Queens and Brooklyn celebrated Fashion Week with drinks, music, and of course, shopping… Various stores all over New York were a buzz and a bit packed with all kinds during this event. I chose to go to SoHo and Bleecker St. as it has the most shops packed into a rather small space, that way my friend and I could get the most out of our time. Most of the stores started their events at 6pm and ended around 10pm… So after work I changed and headed to SoHo with the lovely Nathalie. First order of business… Betsey !

These two girls were dancing in the window, although the one on the left stood still when she saw us taking a picture, they both looked as perfect as mannequins… Betsey Johnson was doing mini-makeovers (make-up and hair! with purchase), cupcakes, and yoplait yogurt ? was being handed out with neon pink spoons and napkins….

Now..we mustn’t forget the PINK champagne or DJ’s that look like little floating clouds of fluff and glitter..

Next we wandered next door to an Adidas specialty store that sold their lines of designer collaborations and shoes you could design yourself (design workshop)… we were free drink hunting (not difficult during fashion week)

<3 JEREMY SCOTT! <3 

Ciroc and Moscato on ice. 

I was surprised to find that most if not all stores were serving not only champagne but actual cocktails… of the ingredients I saw used some were.. limes, mint, bitters, anaise, and your promotions of new (some old) wines and liquors. After adidas we were headed to the Billionaire Boys Club to check it out where Pharrell Williams was slated for an appearance as well…. FNO BBC SHIRTS ! at any rate when we arrived there was a gigantic crowd out front..so we gave up on that. Luckily Benefit Cosmetics was giving out free swag so we hopped on that, we only had to drink what tasted like a sour apple juice out of little neon orange plastic vials and tell them our deepest darkest beauty secrets… ya… weird female initiation type stuff (hahah not really) mine was that I don’t shave my legs much in the winter, little did I know my friend said the same thing! hahah, the girl I told laughed. After that we wandered in and out of various places and headed to TopShop of course.

TopShop had a DJ, mini-make overs using their make-up line and a drawing for a trip to London Fashion week and a $1000.00 shopping spree…..why, certainly we entered that.

SWAGswagSWAGswagSWAGswagSwagSWAGsWaGSwagswagswagSwAGSWAGswAgSWag

Benefit- Mascara, mini perfume, make-up bag, gift card, tote bag and some samples

Mulberry AW 2011- Fox Mask with black ribbon, sticker sheet with lots of woodland creature illustrations, nail wraps in gold/black, Kiehl’s body wash, tote bag.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CdgftzjMSA]

As far as celebrity sightings go besides a few known rappers hanging around BBC (Billionaires Boys Club) … Kim Kardashian at her new store DASH (for about 5 minutes and it got MOBBED) and Pauly D at American Apparel (we only witnessed his car trying to drive away from yet another mob of screaming people running after it and practically climbing on top.. SERIOUSLY) I guess you just need to have no class and a reality show and you too can be mobbed during New York Fashion Week… geesh.. In all seriousness though the way these “celebrities” got bombarded it was borderline scary. I never want to be famous.

On that note… here is what I purchased from the night.. I was very well behaved..

#1- I love french fries.

#2- This eyeliner crayon in Equinox (a rose gold) is so easy to just swipe on and I get endless compliments on it… I had to buy more, its great for low maintenance t-shirt/jeans kind of girls

#3- Those shoes…..cost me…… $30 ! Originally $105 !!?? Really. They are the best fitting shoes I have found in awhile. Score.

Cheers my fellow Ladies and Gents, I hope all your dreams come true fashionably late-er- ON TIME. Good Night.

Post Script-  A couple celebrity pictures… I think Daniel looks adorkable.

It’s Only Rock N’ Roll

SO…. First Saturday off in nearly a month… the weather is perfect.. what is one to do? Well being a girl, why not Calgel? What is this gel you speak of? Well… its only the perfect solution for low maintenance clumsy girls such as myself (and perhaps you too??) I had heard of Sakura Salon for these popular japanese nails they offer (one of only a few in all of Nyc! tisk tisk) I have always wanted some fun nails and here was the perfect start! So a riding I went to the Lower East Side and had myself a nice little day … I wandered around a bit pre-nail appointment and here are some of my little serendipity moments along the way…

I parked next to the now defunct Mars Bar… It is littered with spray painted I miss you’s and “The Last Summer”… The first time I came here it was solely because a friend and I were seeking out the dirtiest punk/dive bars while on our visit, this one came up on the list pretty easily, and so it was that I used the bathroom (which reaked of pure ammonia and was not much bigger than an airplane bathroom) simply to conquer what was known as the dirtiest bar in Nyc’s bathroom.. images of Trainspotting briefly crossed my mind but I was too busy not inhaling to fully regale them….. So not only is this place closed but also John Varvatos has taken up residence in the old CBGB’s.. (another landmark I was fortunate to have drank in years ago). I went in and talked to one of the sales people whom informed me that all the walls, floor, etc are original, they even took large sections of the wall (which was covered in flyers, stickers.. ahem.. etc..) and basically put big frames over them museum style sealing them off for preservation. Of course the store is beautiful, but it is a sad beauty, for what once was and what is. I appreciated the attempt at preservation however, and apparently they have music nights the first Thursday of every month where musicians perform in ……store (I don’t like calling that building a store but… alas)

They also have records for sale as well as old amplifiers, speakers, record players… I rather liked that bit too. Next up, in my search for sustenance !.. I found The Juice Press 

Its Vegan and raw and DELICIOUS! And it is how I am aiming to eat because I feel wonderful when I do, they are also opening one near my work.. this could mean trouble for my pocket book….. last but not least… I did a run thru of Patricia Field because it was nearby and I still had more time to burn.. I behaved and bought a pocket sized amount.. (;

OH! I almost forgot I stumbled upon a nice little coffee house/poetry theatre and URBANOLOGY. An interactive game put on by The Guggenheim and BMW? Check the link, it was educational in a fun way… don’t believe me? Play online.

… And finally….  Sakura.

I was greeted warmly by the receptionist who offered me a drink while I waited (Hot tea!) and I was left to browse thru numerous magazines, mostly japanese, which I couldn’t read but they have the best pictures to make things up to… Anyway once my nail tech was available she sat me down and we discussed design. I had only booked an appointment for what they called a glitter gradation, anything else further requires more time and more $$$. We decided a couple fingers solid glitter (next time black w/leopard print and pyramid studs!) she then prepped my nails and began the process which was roughly one coat clear calgel then calgel mixed with the glitter of my choosing and finally a top coat. Between each application you place your hand under a UV lamp to quick dry them and harden the gel. Maintenance requires a new topcoat once a week to keep it fresh, otherwise they last up to 3 weeks and are not to crack, chip, or peel off. This is ideal for people such as myself that are rough on their hands. The atmosphere of Sakura is that of a spa, calm, tranquil… almost too much because as this is a time consuming event (nearly 3 hours) I started to fall asleep only prompted awake by my technicians prodding.. “Are you ok?!” ahahah. yes. Afterwards they massage your hand/fingers with aromatherapy lotion and off you go! This no doubt costs a pretty penny…  about $60 plus tip.. however you get what you pay for. I shall see how this holds up but so far I love it!

This cat is addicted to Calgel sniffing !

Cheers!

It’s Only Rock N’ Roll

SO…. First Saturday off in nearly a month… the weather is perfect.. what is one to do? Well being a girl, why not Calgel? What is this gel you speak of? Well… its only the perfect solution for low maintenance clumsy girls such as myself (and perhaps you too??) I had heard of Sakura Salon for these popular japanese nails they offer (one of only a few in all of Nyc! tisk tisk) I have always wanted some fun nails and here was the perfect start! So a riding I went to the Lower East Side and had myself a nice little day … I wandered around a bit pre-nail appointment and here are some of my little serendipity moments along the way…

I parked next to the now defunct Mars Bar… It is littered with spray painted I miss you’s and “The Last Summer”… The first time I came here it was solely because a friend and I were seeking out the dirtiest punk/dive bars while on our visit, this one came up on the list pretty easily, and so it was that I used the bathroom (which reaked of pure ammonia and was not much bigger than an airplane bathroom) simply to conquer what was known as the dirtiest bar in Nyc’s bathroom.. images of Trainspotting briefly crossed my mind but I was too busy not inhaling to fully regale them….. So not only is this place closed but also John Varvatos has taken up residence in the old CBGB’s.. (another landmark I was fortunate to have drank in years ago). I went in and talked to one of the sales people whom informed me that all the walls, floor, etc are original, they even took large sections of the wall (which was covered in flyers, stickers.. ahem.. etc..) and basically put big frames over them museum style sealing them off for preservation. Of course the store is beautiful, but it is a sad beauty, for what once was and what is. I appreciated the attempt at preservation however, and apparently they have music nights the first Thursday of every month where musicians perform in ……store (I don’t like calling that building a store but… alas)

They also have records for sale as well as old amplifiers, speakers, record players… I rather liked that bit too. Next up, in my search for sustenance !.. I found The Juice Press 

Its Vegan and raw and DELICIOUS! And it is how I am aiming to eat because I feel wonderful when I do, they are also opening one near my work.. this could mean trouble for my pocket book….. last but not least… I did a run thru of Patricia Field because it was nearby and I still had more time to burn.. I behaved and bought a pocket sized amount.. (;

OH! I almost forgot I stumbled upon a nice little coffee house/poetry theatre and URBANOLOGY. An interactive game put on by The Guggenheim and BMW? Check the link, it was educational in a fun way… don’t believe me? Play online.

… And finally….  Sakura.

I was greeted warmly by the receptionist who offered me a drink while I waited (Hot tea!) and I was left to browse thru numerous magazines, mostly japanese, which I couldn’t read but they have the best pictures to make things up to… Anyway once my nail tech was available she sat me down and we discussed design. I had only booked an appointment for what they called a glitter gradation, anything else further requires more time and more $$$. We decided a couple fingers solid glitter (next time black w/leopard print and pyramid studs!) she then prepped my nails and began the process which was roughly one coat clear calgel then calgel mixed with the glitter of my choosing and finally a top coat. Between each application you place your hand under a UV lamp to quick dry them and harden the gel. Maintenance requires a new topcoat once a week to keep it fresh, otherwise they last up to 3 weeks and are not to crack, chip, or peel off. This is ideal for people such as myself that are rough on their hands. The atmosphere of Sakura is that of a spa, calm, tranquil… almost too much because as this is a time consuming event (nearly 3 hours) I started to fall asleep only prompted awake by my technicians prodding.. “Are you ok?!” ahahah. yes. Afterwards they massage your hand/fingers with aromatherapy lotion and off you go! This no doubt costs a pretty penny…  about $60 plus tip.. however you get what you pay for. I shall see how this holds up but so far I love it!

This cat is addicted to Calgel sniffing !

Cheers!

Am I MAD enough for you?

Today was the opening party for Banana Republic’s Mad Men Collection. Even though it was originally slated to be released with the series premiere (which has been pushed back) Republic decided to release it anyway. So all over the city at certain locations they were offering up free drinks and hors d’oeuvres… I promptly filled a tiny plate and sipped two vodka cranberries while I roamed the store. I must say it reminded me a bit of an upscale gap… I have a feeling they are going the way of the Gap, all these large name stores are becoming dinosaurs… So I assume like Target and their designer team ups Banana is attempting the same. If nothing else I scored a nice pair of high waist cigarette pants and a skinny leopard print belt….. and a ton of discounts for a later return visit (still more mad men I lust for) So there is that. Over all it was a nice time and where else but New York can you catch a buzz while listening to 60’s music shopping for fedoras?

Pictures were not to be taken inside the store… I tried to sneak.. but alas…

Also in keeping to the theme.. as a former bartender I have always favored a good Old Fashioned, turns out so does one of the shows main characters, Draper.

  • 2 oz. Bourbon Whiskey
  • A dash of sugar
  • A splash of orange juice
  • A bit of sugar
  • Cherries and Oranges (mashed)

Muddle the fruit on the bottom with the sugar, add ice, pour in your bourbon of choice, a couple drops of bitters and a splash of orange juice, shake and enjoy!

I found this ad.. interesting… also if your trying to kick the smoking habit then you should not watch Mad Men… they light a new one up in practically every scene, but this is a fact that rings true for any movies of that era and beyond, people just did not know or want to know the risks so it remained prevalent in hospitals, hollywood, etc…

Here is a post to amc about the collection—-> Time Warp!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtMfzasLbu8]

Am I MAD enough for you?

Today was the opening party for Banana Republic’s Mad Men Collection. Even though it was originally slated to be released with the series premiere (which has been pushed back) Republic decided to release it anyway. So all over the city at certain locations they were offering up free drinks and hors d’oeuvres… I promptly filled a tiny plate and sipped two vodka cranberries while I roamed the store. I must say it reminded me a bit of an upscale gap… I have a feeling they are going the way of the Gap, all these large name stores are becoming dinosaurs… So I assume like Target and their designer team ups Banana is attempting the same. If nothing else I scored a nice pair of high waist cigarette pants and a skinny leopard print belt….. and a ton of discounts for a later return visit (still more mad men I lust for) So there is that. Over all it was a nice time and where else but New York can you catch a buzz while listening to 60’s music shopping for fedoras?

Pictures were not to be taken inside the store… I tried to sneak.. but alas…

Also in keeping to the theme.. as a former bartender I have always favored a good Old Fashioned, turns out so does one of the shows main characters, Draper.

  • 2 oz. Bourbon Whiskey
  • A dash of sugar
  • A splash of orange juice
  • A bit of sugar
  • Cherries and Oranges (mashed)

Muddle the fruit on the bottom with the sugar, add ice, pour in your bourbon of choice, a couple drops of bitters and a splash of orange juice, shake and enjoy!

I found this ad.. interesting… also if your trying to kick the smoking habit then you should not watch Mad Men… they light a new one up in practically every scene, but this is a fact that rings true for any movies of that era and beyond, people just did not know or want to know the risks so it remained prevalent in hospitals, hollywood, etc…

Here is a post to amc about the collection—-> Time Warp!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtMfzasLbu8]

Christian the shoe slayer.

If I was crazy I’d spend most of my rent money on these.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCF3ywukQYA]

$hop til’ you drop.. into a money pit.

Now when you think of a shopoholic or a compulsive shopper it seems silly….. YET they exist. ! In fact I believe I may have a touch of both, however I manage well enough that my bills are paid and my stomach is always full and I’m not pummeling other girls over at sample sales for a pair of Vivienne Westwood shoes or something like that. I would like to point out though that, yes, I am a girl, and yes I do like to shop (mostly online or at crazy nyc stores.. so. many. good. ones.) I generally hate malls and large department stores, the only exception is when I’m with my Mom because I have spent many a year in a mall with that woman. lol. Anyway the point is the main reason I shop so much is because I get bored.. also I am not as pre-occupied with creative outlets as I once was which results in me having a killer wardrobe but at a stand still with my debt. So what is the point of all this? Well I am sure some of you out there have or are experiencing the same thing. Solution ? Do anything but shop! please?!?!? I mean, once in awhile, but not frequently. I do things other than shop that I love to do all the time but I just need to do more of it. Much like the character in the movie Shopoholic, I too would like to point out how overpriced and overdone all that stuff is.

Example: Almost every Betsey Johnson item I have gotten with thin straps breaks or starts to tear… now do you know how much on average her dresses and whatnot run? $200 and up easily. Luckily I am a bargain Queen (not always) so have never paid full price so when a strap breaks, disappointing, but not devastating….I just get it fixed. Example 2: I was bored surfing the net today and I decided to look at some Alexander McQueen jewelry online.. the ring for 2011 on sale for $150 at Saks that was simply brass and enamel….ya… (made in china) How much do you think that costs to make? I will say that 80% of the time I shop sales but even so, I have spent a bundle. All its doing is making it take longer for me to reach my goals. I want to do things for not only myself (travel, more schooling.. etc) but others as well. As long as I continue my current frivolous lifestyle… that will be more difficult. -AND- just think… how good will it be to be completely (or nearly) debt free??? FREAKIN’ AMAZING ! so there you go. Join me in my pursuit of happiness and financial freedom and good health. You can only benefit ! If you have any stories or comments about this topic, please, DO TELL

Also if you get a chance to check out the MTV True Life (yeah I used to get sucked in when I had cable) there is one featuring two girls who are (extreme) examples of how gone unchecked this type of habit can turn into a downward spiral, of course these girls also happen to have some serious underlying issues (I suspect causing this irrational shopping behavior) but still… their stories might have a similar effect on your over-shopping as does showing a bunch of teenagers horrific pictures of STD’s to try and dissuade them from having sex……….ya… right… I thought so. Can’t say I didn’t try to help you…. ahahah

This girl ran up her parents credit cards to $10,000 ! Making it harder for an already struggling family.. (my mind was blown as to why she had their cards in the first place, the show kind of explains. meh) Also in this particular screen shot she looks super…um.. pissed *cough* bitchy *cough* … Guuurrrl those Juicy Jeans don’t do shit for your ass, why did you buy 5 pair??? DON’T BE HER!! AH!

This chick spent so much not only did she have a pile of unopened bills (too afraid to look/avoiding payment) rent-a-center (even her furniture on credit ?!? shit.) repossessed pretty much her whole apartment. Reality Bites. (good movie ! anyone? anyone?) DON’T BE THIS GIRL! AHHHH !

So in conclusion, find balance in everything you do because its ever so important. Extremes are never healthy.

Cheers!

P.s. I will be posting some DIY projects soon, how much more satisfying ! Really ! Trust me on this one.

[polldaddy poll=5314571]

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Justified.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBBGE7vz02s]
So I was bad, very, very bad. For some frivolous reason I have wanted just ONE pair of ridiculous designer sunglasses.. Why? I cannot explain. All I can say is I only ever buy gimmicky or $10 sunglasses that eventually stop fitting correctly, the lenses are so bad they don’t even block the sun or help me see effectively and/or the color/paint starts to wear off of them… SO I wanted one pair I would wear until they are completely destroyed or join me in the grave. I always thought.. Chanel.. classic. But then I saw this updated version with a modern twist of the cat eye by Prada and it was over. They are unique, they fit my face well, and I like them dammit. So ya I own these now and my irrational sunglasses lust is over. If your thinking of the doing the same and just cannot justify it.. just do it. You only live once and you can’t take anything with you. Is that reason enough? If you need to justify anything else e-mail me your questions, I can justify pretty much everything. I should have been a lawyer.

                                                           ~FIN~

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